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Instructor: Dr. Kisha Tracy
Office: Miller Hall 204
Office Hours: MW 9:30-10:45 or by appointment (to request a meeting outside of office hours, click here and follow instructions)
Email: ktracy3@fitchburgstate.edu (best way to contact)
Phone: x4827
Mailbox: Miller Hall, English Studies Department Office

Time: MW 11AM
Location: Percival 103

Syllabus: “The Middle Ages”
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Click to download full syllabus


Purdue University Student Guide to Creating a Successful College Experience
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Click to download file


Course Schedule: “The Middle Ages”
Day
Class
In-Class
Assignments Due
Sept 8
1

10
2
Wiki: Sign up for and join wiki prior to class (see Instruction Guide)
Skim: Contexts, Religious and Spiritual Life, 628-60
Read: Introduction, XXVIII-XXXIX; One Readlist link (blog post: "Annotations in early editions of //Canterbury Tales//");
Luminarium: Medieval Drama (and play around on “Essays and Articles” and “Web Links”);
North Virginia Community College: Medieval Theatre
Unit 1: Stage Break
15
3
  • Discussion: Medieval Drama
Read: “The Chester Noah’s Flood,” 686-97; John Watkins, “Bedevilling the Histories of Medieval and Early Modern Drama” (follow instructions given on how to find/read/comment on article)
Due: required Article Annotation
Due: Course Journal Week #1 entries (by Friday, midnight)
17
4

Read: "Everyman" (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
Watch: YouTube video of previous class performances
22
5
  • Assignment Discussion: Play
Read: York Crucifixion Play, 726-33
Due: Medievalist for a Semester Checkpoint 1
24
6
Due: Course Journal Week #2 entries (by Friday, midnight)
Unit 2: Holier Than Thou...or Even a Hand Grenade
29
7
  • Discussion: Writing a Religious Figure and Hagiography
Read: Aelfric of Eynsham, 131-34; Saint Mary of Egypt, 135-48; Ruth Mazo Karras, “Holy Harlots: Prostitute Saints in Medieval Legend”
Due: required Article Annotation
Oct 1
8

Read: “The Life of Saint Margaret,” (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”); Chaucer, The Prioress’s Tale, 531-37 (plus Persecution of Jews, 661-65); three Readlist links ( two news articles: "Why the Israel-Palestine Conflict," "Online Essay claimed Jews deserve wrath"; one video: "Malala Yousafzai")
Watch: Prezi on Crises of 14th Century
Due: Course Journal Week #3 entries (by Friday, midnight)
6
9
  • Endeavors
Read: Margery Kempe, 604-27; Julian of Norwich, 586-603; one Readlist link (blog entry: "The Life of a Mystic")
Unit 3: Holding Out for a Hero
8
10

Read: Heliand (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”); Judith, 93-102
Watch: Prezi on Anglo-Saxon Literature
Due: Course Journal Week #4 entries (by Friday, midnight)
13

  • No Class: Columbus Day

15
11
  • No Class: Dr. T away at conference
Watch: English Studies Abroad Spring 2014 Fitchburg Historical Society presentation; Optional read: MassMedieval blog posts about English Studies Abroad Spring 2014 (on Readlist)
Wiki: post a response to the presentation on the Chat Room and respond to classmates' posts
Due: Medievalist for a Semester Checkpoint 2
20
12
  • Endeavors
Read: “Battle of Maldon,” 103-8; Exeter Book Elegies, 24-30
22
13

Read: Beowulf, 44-87; J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Monsters and the Critics”; One Readlist link (news article: "Royal Hall from Beowulf found?")
Watch: Prezi on Beowulf
Due: required Article Annotation
Due: Course Journal Week #5 entries (by Friday, midnight)
Unit 4: Iceland? That’s the Green One, Right?
27
14
Read: Egils Saga (approx. half)
Listen: two Saga Thing Podcasts on Readlist (Episodes 1A and 1C)
Wiki: post at least two questions to the Chat Room prior to class - one about text and one about podcasts
29
15

Read: Egils Saga (finish); Jesse L. Byock, “Social Memory and the Sagas: The Case of Egils saga”
Due: required Article Annotation
Due: Course Journal Week #6 entries (by Friday, midnight)
Nov 3
16

Read: Erik the Red’s Saga
Listen and Read: two Saga Thing Podcasts on Readlist (Episodes 4 and 4 Supplement); one Readlist article (blog entry: "The Westford Knight" - bonus opportunity)
Unit 5: History...or Is It?
5
17
  • Discussion: What is History?
Read: Gildas, 1-8; Pseudo-Nennius (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”); Bede, 9-23; Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 118-26
Watch: Prezi on Medieval Histories
Due: Medievalist for a Semester Checkpoint 3
Due: Course Journal Week #7 entries (by Friday, midnight)
10
18
  • Endeavors
Read: Geoffrey of Monmouth, 157-79; Sir John Mandeville, 567-85; Jane Zatta, “Translating the Historia
Due: required Article Annotation
Unit 6: Blame (Romances on) the French!
12
19
  • Special Guest: Kai Fay
Read: Contexts, Love and Marriage, 361-78; Rosalind Field, “Romance in England, 1066-1400”
Watch: Prezi on Anglo-Norman Literature
Due: required Article Annotation
Due: Course Journal Week #8 entries (by Friday, midnight)
17
20
  • Discussion: French to English Romances
Read: Chrétien de Troyes, Cligès
19
21

Due: Course Journal Week #9 entries (by Friday, midnight)
24
22
  • Bonus (5 points towards Checkpoint 4): Participation in Library Scavenger Hunt at 8-9:15AM (RSVP required by class time November 19)
Read: Marie de France, Yonec and Equitan and Lai le Fresne; Chaucer, Clerk’s Tale (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
Due: Medievalist for a Semester Checkpoint 4
26

  • No Class: Thanksgiving Break

Dec 1
23

Read: Marie de France, Lanval, 188-202; Sir Launfal (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
3
24
Play assignment (on wiki assignment page) due by email 12/5, midnight
Unit 7: The Once and Future King...Well, We’re Waiting...
8
25
  • Discussion: Who is Arthur?
Read: Chrétien de Troyes, “The Knight of the Cart”; Jerome Mandel, “The Idea of Family in Chrétien de Troyes and Sir Thomas Malory”
Revisit: Monmouth; Lanval
Due: required Article Annotation
10
26
  • Endeavors
Read: Thomas Malory, 754-99
Due: Course Journal (with Week#10 entries)
15


Due: Medievalist for a Semester Journal Article/Cover Letter by midnight